AN AWARD winning restaurant, that helps to rehabilitate prisoners is set to close after 10 years, in a blow to both the prison and hospitality sectors.
The Clink Restaurant at HMP Styal in is set to close its doors in July after helping prisoners to learn new skills for a decade.
The restaurant is one of three establishments in the UK giving inmates the chance to up-skill, whilst still behind bars.
However, a statement released today announced that the restaurant will cease trading on July 31.
The statement explained that the concept of providing female prisoners with training and opportunities is “no longer viable”; thanks to a “number of factors including costs and participant numbers”;.
Donna-Marie Edmonds, Chief Executive of The Clink Charity, said: “The decision not to renew our contract at HMP Styal has been made with an incredibly heavy heart.
“The Clink Charity’s mission is to reduce re-offending and we have been doing this at Styal, producing outstanding results for over a decade.
“Although the restaurant will officially close this , our partnership at Styal will be remembered not only for its landmark training outcomes, but as a beacon of hope where women have sought refuge and rehabilitation.
“As one of those students puts it: ‘If it wasn’t for my journey at The Clink, I wouldn’t be where I am now.’”;
The idea for The Clink was created by Alberto Crisci MBE, then catering manager at HMP High Down in .
He saw potential in prisoners working in the prison canteen and introduced accredited City & Guilds NVQ training.
The restaurant aims to combine rehabilitation and learning new skills, to give prisoners a better chance of finding a job when they are released.
Many The Clink staff members have stayed working in the hospitality industry after being released from prison.
The restaurant has won many awards over the years, and was named Cheshire Restaurant of the Year at the Cheshire Life magazine Food & Drink Awards in 2024.
However, unfortunately problems facing both the prison and hospitality sectors in recent years have left bosses with no choice but to close.
The Clink Restaurant’s in HMP Brixton and HMP High Down are currently still open, whilst the restaurant at HMP closed in 2022.
This follows the news that Tis set to close its first ever restaurant, in Brighton after more than 50 years.
Diners will have until May 9 to enjoy one last meal before the site closes trading.
Shoreditch-based restaurant is also closing its doors after 11 years, despite being a fixture on the World’s Best Restaurant List since its opening in 2014.
Pioneered by maverick chef James Lowe, the fiercely no-frills concept offered a set menu averaging around £50 – radically cheap in the world of fine dining.
And French-inspired brasseriehas closed its popular branch atQuays, marking the end of an era at theand leisure hub.
The restaurant, which first opened in 2017, quickly became one of the more upmarket options at the site, offering a taste ofto local diners.
